Athletics: Alexander leads Borders raid with top six finish

Feb 7 2008 by Luke James, Liverpool Daily Post

DAVE ALEXANDER headed West Cheshire AC’s charge at the Borders Road Running League fourth round.

He posted 27 minutes 44 seconds for sixth position after tackling the five-mile course at Abergele.

He was supported by under-20 junior Louis Humphreys, who clocked 23rd position with a time of 28.45.

Club treasurer Graham Jenkins banked 29 minutes 28 seconds for 32nd and fellow over-45 veteran Gary Withers posted 29.48 for 40th.

Russell Kirk provided backing with a time of 29.54 for 45th position, ahead of Andrew Clague, who secured 55th position in 30.38.

West Cheshire’s men’s team lie fifth in division one after four rounds.

Graham Earlam finished 57th in 30:41, ahead of Paul Price (71st in 31:34), and Matthew Gibbs (103rd in 33:30) and tenth team counter, Andy Hickmott (113th in 34:08).

Other West Cheshire AC finishers included Dave Hough (130th in 35:42), Alan Cooper (134th in 36:14), Steve Russell-Ingram (169th in 42:34), Charles Thackray (171st in 43:40), and Ian Cook (176th in 53:41).

Ricky Challinor, of Deeside AAC, won the race with a time of 26 minutes 53 seconds, from runner- up Matthew Rose (Buckley) in 27.15 and Xavier Desse (Wirral) in third with 27.18.

Isabelle Redfern (Prestatyn) won the ladies race in 32.05 from Deestriders Jay Jennions in 32.11 and Tattenhall’s Sara Atkinson in 32.26.

Team Standings (after round four):

MEN - Division One: 1 Eryri 1497; 2 Buckley 1626; 3 Abergele 2013; 4 Ellesmere Port 2439; 5 West Cheshire 2524; 6 Wrexham 3166; 7 Wirral 3472.

Division Two: 1 Wallasey 2360; 2 Prestatyn 2569; 3 Tattenhall 4327; 4 Wrecsam Tri 4472; 5 Deeside AC 6997; 6 Deestriders 7199; 7 Helsby 7564.

LADIES - Division One: 1 Tattenhall 108; 2 Wirral 225; 3 Buckley 274; 4 Wrexham AC 480; 5 Deestriders 483; 6 Prestatyn 487; 7 Helsby 540.

Division Two: 1 Wallasey 294; 2 Eryri 312; 3 Ellesmere Port 439; 4 Deeside AC 810; 5 Wrecsam Tri 891; 6 Abergele 934; 7 West Cheshire 999.

West Cheshire AC will be represented by all six age group teams at the North West Sportshall League Finals, at Robin Park, Wigan, on Sunday, March 2.

Several West Cheshire AC members received awards at the club’s annual presentation evening held at Chester Rugby Club.

Welsh international hammer thrower Stephanie Owens won the Ladies Cup, and UK- ranked under-20 decathlete Carl Van Schie claimed the Men’s Cup.

Bryony Potter was awarded the Wrights Cup while age group winners were:

@Under 11 Girls, Sally Pickering; Under 11 Boys, James McMahon; Under 13 Girls, Alice Jennings; Under 13 Boys, Adam Howell; Under 15 Girls, Danielle Erskine; Under 15 Boys, Tom Booth.

@Under 17 Ladies, Emily Done; Under 17 Men, Alex Haswell; Under 20 Ladies, Rachel Stoakley; Under 20 Men, Tom Walley; Senior Ladies, Nicola Gore; Senior Men, Dave McKay; Veteran Ladies, Cath McGrath; Veteran Men, Russell Kirk.

Fixtures this weekend include the West Cheshire AC Open Junior Cross Country Races at Cheshire Oaks High School, Ellesmere Port, on Saturday (10am).

The Manchester and District Cross Country League fifth round takes place on Saturday, at Wythenshawe Park, Manchester, (12.15pm).

The North Wales Cross Country League Fifth Round takes place on Saturday, at the Marches School, Oswestry.

And the Liverpool and District Cross Country Championships take place on Sunday, at Croxteth Park, Liverpool.